Alcova Refill Starts April 1st

Water levels at Alcova go up ten feet in April as the Bureau of Reclamation does the annual reservoir refill in anticipation of the irrigation season.

Area Manager, John Lawson says, while the refill itself is standard, it will play a role in alleviating expected high runoff and inflow into the entire reservoir system this spring.

"We're expecting about 170 percent above average inflow into our reservoir system. In addition to that, we have a  system that is now over 150 percent above average for this time of year. So all indications to us is that we'd better start to make some space."

Lawson says they began releasing water out of Guernsey reservoir on into Nebraska in February.

He says flows out of Guernsey are currently at about 3800 cubic feet per second and they'll release around 400,000 acre feet as a precautionary measure.

"That 400,000 acre foot of space that we're creating may be very necessary looking at the high snow pack and the forecasted inflows that we're looking at presently."

Cabin and boat owners on Alcova will want to keep in mind that levels will  rise at about 5 inches a day starting April 1st and continue through the month. North Platte river users should also be aware that water levels are high for this time of year and to practice caution.